Wine And Beer Notes.

Beer man Michael Jackson has turned his hand to Scotch. He has written

``The Complete Guide to Malt Scotch`` (Running Press, $18.95), which offers information on more than 100 of Scotland`s malt whiskies.

- Russkoye Premium Russian Lager, the beer from Kiev that was a big hit at a recent tasting here, is now in local stores including Treasure Island, Foremost and Gold Standard. With a hefty $2.49 to $2.79 per bottle retail price, sales should help shore up the Soviet economy.

- California`s innovative Iron Horse Vineyards, a Sonoma County producer of high-quality still and sparkling wines, has just completed a hands-across- the-sea arrangement for a joint venture with the respected French champagne house of Laurent-Perrier. The two family-owned firms will work together to develop 50 acres of vineyards in Sonoma`s Green Valley and produce a sparkling wine for distribution in the United States. The first wine is expected to reach retail shops in 1999.

- A ``World Beer Cup Championship,`` featuring beers from the 23 countries that competed in the recent World Cup final, brought England the triumph denied it on the field of play. In the beer final, England`s Bass Ale beat Czechoslovakia`s Pilsner Urquell and was declared the No. 1 beer in the world. The Czechs may challenge the outcome, however. Despite his surname, referee Roger Protz, the editor of a journal called ``What`s Brewing,`` is English. -